The law says.....

The next day Hermione was going round places for potential jobs, but with the new law, everyone female was struggling, especially her, since she had to have eight children.  Who would hire her?

She went St Mungos, they wouldn't even hire her as a cleaner. She went to every shop she could think of. No where was hiring.

That evening she spent back at the burrow watching Harry and Ron play wizard chess but not really paying attention.  She got a fright when Percy sat down beside her.

"Any luck on the job front?" He asked.

"No, none at all." She told him sadly.

"I would say there will six incomes so we will be fine,  but I know your not the type if woman to rely on a man or men. We will find you something it might just take time. If there's anything we can do to help just let us know. " Percy told her squeezing her arm.

"How are dealing with this? I know you and Penelope were very close."

"We broke up just after the war." He told her with a sigh. "I think the older brothers and I would have preferred it was someone a little more our age and not just out of high school.  But honestly I don't think any of could have gotten luckier. We all care for you in some regard. We all have a least one thing in common and chat about. It's spending the rest of our lives living with our brothers, now that's the hard part."

This made Hermione laugh.

"One of my friends has been assigned to Crabbe's wife. Imagine being matched with a wife of a known death eater.  He's the only 20 years younger than the other two husbands. He's not coping well."

"Oh percy I  am so sorry. I hadn't really thought about anyone else in this, those who are matched with death eaters or people they have nothing in common with. I guess it makes me pretty selfish.  He is lucky to have you there for him." Hermione told him, squeezing him tight.

"I do not think you are selfish. Just human. If you were friends with him and he had come to you, you would have helped. Do you know who all your friends from school are matched with?"

"Yes of course, I owl them daily. More than we ever did before. " She said with a laugh.

"See caring and sweet. Not selfish." Percy told her, then kissed her on the cheek and went to his room. To do more work he assumed.

She decided to take fate into her own hands and owned Mcgonagall,  she would be able to help. 

The next day she flooed to Hogwarts in the morning , having received a reply from the head mistress late in the night.

Professor Mcgonagall greeted her with a warm hug.

"It's wonderful to see you dear. I have been keeping a close eye on the situation and know you are having trouble finding a job?" The older woman asked, getting right to the point as usual.

"Yes, no where is hiring. Especially women, especially me, since I'm the unlucky witch matched to six men." She told her former mentor.

"Yes, well I have been told I can only hire men or full families, or women over the threshold. For this I am sorry. I cannot hire you full time. But after you owled me last night I looked into things and there is a loop hole. I can hire you part time, as a substitute teacher. It would only be a day here and there. But if I was to introduce a new subject on magical law taught once a week to the seventh years, would you be interested?"

"Yes, I would be. I adored being here and would love to come back even once a week." She replied hugging the older woman again

"Now dear,  hers your contact,  read it over and owl it back when you are ready. I really would not have anyone else in this role."  Suddenly the older woman looked nervous.

"Thank you, is there something else?"

"Yes, I hate asking this, especially of you, you are so strong willed and independent,  you remind me a lot of myself when I was young.  With this new law, I need you to get permission from the head of your house, Bill Weasley I presume?"

Hermione nodded, unable to speak at this new development.

After a couple more seconds of silence, Hermione got up to leave.

"Thank you again." She told her old teacher, without looking her in the eye and flooed back to the burrow. 

She spent the afternoon looking over the contract,  thinking of all her options and when her mind could take no more she had a nap.

"Hermione,  dear it's nearly time for your date with Ron. You should get ready." Mrs Weasley was shaking her awake.

"Oh thank you. Do you know where we are going?" She asked the ginger woman as she got out of bed.

"No, he won't tell anyone, only said its special." Molly said with a smile.

With that Hermione got dressed quickly, now excited for the evening. 

She went downstairs to wait for Ron, he was on time and took her hand as they went to the garden to apparate.

They arrived in an alley in muggle London. He kept her hand as they walked down the street and went into a restaurant.  When shown the table,  he held out her chair for her. She was pleasantly surprised. 

The chatted amicably until the starters arrived.

"Any luck with the job hunt?" He asked her with a full mouth.

"A little, I have a lead." She told him, not wanting to get in to it.

"Well it's not like you need one, you will be looking after the kids. Probably within the year."

"That's hardly fair, I do not want to be a just a baby factory?"

"Factory?"

"Nevermind, I do not want to just breed babies and nothing else."

"No point really, we will make enough money between the six of us."

"It's not about the money, it's about not being idle and being able to make a difference." She said fuming.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I just want you to know that we will take care of you."

They finished dinner in polite conversation,  Hermione paid after Ron got very confused. 

He took her hand again as they walked back to the alley. Before the apparated he took both her hands and gave a kiss, it started out slow but soon he put plenty of feeling behind it. She wasn't sure she was ready but she decided she might as well try. They had kissed before, it was just the situation at changed.  She reminded herself that he was still Ron, still her best friend. 

They kissed for a few minutes then he pulled away looking happy.

"You are beautiful." He told her looking deep in her eyes.

She blushed deeply.

"Thank you, I've missed you, I've missed my best friend." She told him, gently stroking her thumb against his cheek.

"Friend, is that all? After that kiss that's all I am to you?" Ron seethed at her.

"Ron that's not what I meant,  friendship is the basis of a great relationship,  its the most important part to me. I've missed you the last little while, with the war and then this law, I feel like we've gotten lost somewhere."

Ron's gaze softened at this. And he kissed her lips gently,  not lingering this time.

"I want to be your first." He told her.

"I haven't made any decisions yet. Its a big thing to me. I need to be sure."

"Who else would it be? Percy would talk to you about work whilst fucking you, the twins would play joke, Bill doesn't want you and Charlie well he's all muscle and no substance."

"Ron that's your brothers you are talking about! They wouldn't be fucking me, we would be making love." Hermione said getting angry now.

"Really? Making love? You're not that special Hermione! None of my brothers are going to fall that quick, unless you put out before hand." With that he apparated away, leaving her in an alley alone. 

She couldn't go back to the burrow.  She apparated to Luna's she knew she would be welcome and wouldn't get interrogated.  After sending a patronus to Mr and Mrs Weasley letting them know where she was, she knocked on the door.

Luna greeted her with warmth. She saw Hermione's tears and ushered her in, made her a cup of tea and listened.